Bulldozer blade stabilizing attachment



Jan. 4, 1955 e. H. FELT 2,698,491

BULLDOZER BLADE STABILIZING ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 18, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l I uwmrox. T" George'Jz'TFeZi' o arrzg s 1955 5. H. FELT BULLDOZER BLADE STABILIZING ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 18, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v mmvrozc George HFQZ Z Jan. 4, 1955 s. H. FELT BULLDOZEIR BLADE STABILIZING ATTACl-MENT Filed Nov. 18, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3) mmvrozz GeorgeJ-[I 2 21a fbornes United States Patent BULLDOZER BLADE STABILIZING ATTACHMENT George H. Felt, Roseburg, Oreg.

Application November 18, 1949, Serial No. 128,110

Claims. (Cl. 37-144) This invention relates to a device in the form of an attachment which is useful for stabilizing the blade of a bulldozer or like machine.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an attachment of the indicated character which enables the adjustment of the blade for carrying out leveling, grading, road finishing and ditching operations, and which not only stabilizes the blade as it is being moved into an adiusted poistion, but also steadies the blade in the adjusted position and while in operation for the stated purposes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stabilizing attachment applicable to the material removing element of a bulldozer and having means which follows the contour of the ground while being steered by the translatory movement of the bulldozer, the attachment being movable into a raised position in relation to the ground to clear ditches, tree stumps, and other obstructions, and also allowing the bulldozer to be turned around without difficulty.

With the foregoing, other objects of the invention will appear when the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bulldozer selected to illustrate the attachment of the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the attachment detached;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system of the bulldozer in conjunction with which the attachment operates.

The bulldozer shown in Fig. 1 of the drawin s is of the ty e disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,224,725. Such bulldozer includes a material removing element 10 with which the present attachment operates.

The attachment is shown most clearly in Fig. 2. It includes an elongated frame 11. This frame comprises lon itudinal channel members 12 and transverse channel member 13. Each of the longitudinal members 12 consists of front and rear portions 14 and 15 which converge u wardly with respect to each other. The front rtions 14 converge for ardly in relation to each other while the rear ortions 15 are laterallv spac d and substanti lly parallel in relation to each other. The transverse members 13 are arr nged in spac d parallel rel tion to ea h other between the members 12 and are Welded or o herwise secured thereto midwav of the ends there f. Fixed lu s 16 on the front ends of the members 12 h ve connecte therewith a twin c er 17 h vi g round wheels 1 ith pneumatic ires. The wh els 18 are free to t"rn fullv ar und the vertical axes Drnvided bv the c s er. The rear en s 0 of th members 12 have transversely alinecl ap ures 2 therein.

The ttachm nt also includes a hvdranlic ste dvin and liPring iack includin a cvlinder 21 havin nipples 22 and 23 in c mmunication wi h the interi r of the cylinder at the o ite ends respec ively. A piston 24 oper tes in the cvlinder 21. A rod 2 on the 'ston extends throu h the nnner end of the cyli er. Th up er end of the r d 25 is oivntallv connec ed. as at 26. h a ock 27 fixedlv secu e bet een th frame members 13. The lo er end of the c linder 21 has an aoertured lu 28.

The atta hment hereinahnva descri d is designed and a d to he nnli d t a bulld z r of he indicated tvne wi lnnut mate-rial glfm-atinnq The attachment T115! be easilv rn rle a nart n? the lvillfln'rer mh detached therefr m. The m ter removin lement 0 is mounted f r movement into difierent positions with respect to the ice ground. The element 10 may be raised or lowered for leveling and road finishing operations, and it also may be tilted for grading and ditching.

The element 10 comprises a blade 29 on the front end of a frame 30 having spaced arms 31 whose rear ends are pivotally connected with the running gear of the bulldozer; as at 32. The arms 31 support a knuckle comprising parts 33 and 34 which enable angular adjustment of the blade on a vertical axis. An arbor 35 on the part 33 and connected with the blade enables the blade to be tilted. The pivots 32 enable the frame 30 and therefore the blade 29 to be raised or lowered. A short link 36 is pivotally connected wtih the part 34, as at 37. The lug 28 is pivotally connected with the bifurcated upper end of the link 36 by a removable pin 38, and removable pivot pins 39 are extended through the apertures 20 in the ends 19, and also through lugs 9 on the arms 31, respectively. In this manner the present attachment is operatively connected with the bulldozer.

Although only one arm 31 appears in Fig. 1, it is to be understood that there is one arm 31 at each side of the apparatus and that each arm has a lug 9. Thus the present attachment is mounted for up and down movement between a lowered position in which the wheels 18 are in rolling contact with the ground, and a raised position in which the wheels 18 are clear of the ground. The attachment is raised by means of the jack described hereinabove. This jack is operated in connection with the hydraulic system of the bulldozer shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4.

In order that the aforesaid steadying and lifting jack may function a hose 40 has one end connected with the nipple 22 and its other end is connected at 41 with the branched hose 47 leading from valve 42 to the cylinders of the blade lift jacks 46. A hose 43 has one end connected with the nipple 23 and its other end is connected at 44 with the branched hose 45 leading from the valve 42 to the cylinders of the blade lift jacks 46. These cylinders communicate with each other and with the valve 42 by the hose 47. Oil or other fluid is supplied to the system by a tank 48 having a feed pipe 49 leading to the valve 42. A pump 50 in the pipe 49 puts the oil under pressure. A return flow pipe 51 leads from a blade tilt valve 52 to the tank 48 and the valves 42 and 52 are connected by a pipe 53. A blade tilting jack 54 is connected with the valve 52 by pipes 55 and 56. Bell crank levers are linked to the arms 31, and connected with the jacks 46 it being understood there are two such levers and one of which appears in Fig. 1 designated 57. Likewise, two bell crank levers are interposed between the blade 29 and the jack 54, one of such levers designated 58 appears in Fig. l.

The provision and arrangement of the parts is such that the blade 29 may be lowered four inches below the ground level and to be raised ten inches above the same, after which the frame 11 may be raised to elevate the wheels 18 in relation to the ground for turning the bulldozer.

When the valve 42 is open, oil under pressure flows through pipe 45 into the jacks 46 thereby raising the blade 29 through the intervention of the levers 57 and frame 30. At the same time oil enters the cylinder 21 through pipe 43, thereby helping in raising blade 29 throu h connection to frame 11. By manipulating the valve 42 to the hold position, the oil is free to equalize the jacks and thus steadily maintain the blade 29 raised to the desired extent.

By manipulating both valves 42 and 52 the blade 29 may be tilted. Oil fiows through valve 42 through pipe 53, valve 52 and pipe 55 or 56 according to whether it is a left or right tilt. Displaced oil from the jack 54 may return through either pipe 55 or 56, as the case may be, into the tank 48 by way of valve 52 and pipe 51. Also oil displaced from the jacks 46 and cylinder 21 may return to the tank 48 through pipe 47, valve 42, pipe 53, valve 52 and pipe 51.

By manipulating the valve 42 the wheels 18 may be elevated from the ground. This is accomplished by oil flowing through pipes 45 and 43 into the cylinder 21 and into the jacks 46. The oil in the cylinder acts on the piston 24 causing the blade 29 to rise. When the piston in cylinder 21 reaches the end of its travel frame 11 and wheels 18 are elevated by jacks 46. The blade 29 raises approximately 10 inches above ground level before frame 11 and wheels 18 start to rise. With the valve 42 in the hold position, the jacks 46, hold the wheels 18 as well as the blade 29 elevated. This allows the bulldozer to be turned around in a small area, and the wheels 18 to clear ditches, tree stumps, and other obstructions. The wheels 18 are full castering and are mounted so as to follow the contour of the ground when the wheels are lowered.

The present device may be applied to a bulldozer of the type referred to by merely inserting the pins 38 and 39, three in all, and then connecting the hoses 40 and 43 with nipples 22 and 23. By simply removing the pins 38 and 39 and disconnecting the hoses 40 and 43 the device may be readily detached.

It will be apparent that the device stabilizes the element by suspending the front end of the element in a raised or lowered position while the blade 29 is horizontally or angularly disposed or tilted. The device increases the efliciency and maneuverability of the machine in carrying out material removing operations, and give the operator a stabilized platform from which to control the operations.

The invention is not to be restricted to the details as above described, but includes all constructions and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a bulldozer, the combination of a vehicle, a material removing element mounted on said vehicle for up and down movement into different positions of adjustment with respect to the ground, a frame extending longitudinally of the bulldozer above said element, means at the rear end of said element mounting the frame for up and down movement with respect to the ground, means on the front end of the frame in advance of said element which rolls in contact with the ground when the frame is in a lowered position, and fluid operated means between said element and the frame and pivotally connected therewith, for causing the up and down movement of the frame into raised and lowered positions and for holding it therein.

2. In a bulldozer, the combination of a vehicle, a mate- I rial removing element mounted on said vehicle for up and down movement into different positions with respect to the ground, a hydraulic system operatively connected with said element for causing the movement of the element for the stated purpose, a frame having means on its front end in advance of said element which may roll in contact with the ground, means connecting the rear ends of the frame with said element for the pivotal movement of the frame between a lowered position in which said rolling means is in contact with the ground, and a raised position in which the rolling means is clear of the ground, a hydraulic jack comprising a cylinder and a piston operable in the cylinder, said piston having a rod, the upper end of the rod being pivotally connected with said frame, the lower end of the cylinder being pivotally connected with said element, the interior of said cylinder being in communication with said hydraulic system for the flow of fluid into the cylinder and the discharge of fluid from the cylinder by means of conduits connected with the opposite ends of the cylinder, said jack enabling the material removing element to move up and down with respect to said frame, and the piston of said jack in engagement with the bottom of the cylinder causing the frame to move into its raised position when said element acting on said cylinder is moved from a partly raised position into a fully raised position.

3. In a bulldozer, the combination of a vehicle, a material removing element Whose rear end is pivoted on said vehicle so that said element is mounted for up and down movement into different positions with respect to the ground, a stabilizing frame having ground wheels on its front end in advance of said element, the rear end of said frame pivotally connected with said element at the rear end thereof whereby said frame may be moved up and down, and fluid operated means connected with said element and said frame, whereby said element may be moved up and down relatively to the frame, and whereby the frame may be caused by said fluid operated means to move up and down and held relatively to said element when the latter has been moved up a predetermined distance.

4. In a bulldozer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said material removing element comprises arms, and a blade carried by said arms, and the rear end of said frame is pivotally connected with said arms.

5. In a bulldozer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fluid operated means includes a fluid receiving cylinder, and a piston operable in the cylinder, said piston has a rod, said cylinder has one end connected with saidelement, and the outer end of the rod is connected with said frame.

6. In a bulldozer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said one end of the cylinder has pivotal connection with said element, and the outer end of the rod has pivotal connection with the frame.

7. In a bulldozer, the combination of a vehicle, a material removing element mounted on said vehicle for up and down pivotal movement, a stabilizing frame having ground wheels, said frame being mounted on said element for up and down pivotal movement, said frame extending over said element, and fluid operated means connected with said element and frame whereby said element may be moved up and down relatively to said frame, and whereby the frame may be caused by said means to move up and down together with said element after the latter has been moved up a predetermined distance.

8. In a bulldozer as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fluid operated means includes a hydraulic jack.

9. In a bulldozer as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fluid operated means includes a cylinder, a piston operable in the cylinder, flow ports for the cylinder at its opposite ends respectively, said piston having a rod, one end of said cylinder being pivotally connected with said element, and the rod being pivotally connected with said frame.

10.'In a bulldozer, the combination of a vehicle, a frame having a material removing blade on its front end, said frame having its rear end pivoted on said vehicle so that the frame may be moved up and down to raise and lower the blade with respect to the ground, a stabilizing frame arranged over said blade frame, said stabilizing frame having its rear end pivoted on said blade frame so that the stabilizing frame may be moved up and down with respect to the ground, means carried by the stabilizing frame on its front end for rolling contact with the ground when the stabilizing frame is in its lowered position, the pivotal axis of the stabilizing frame being at the rear of said blade and said rolling means being disposed in advance of said blade, and hydraulic means connected with the stabilizing frame and the blade frame, for moving the blade frame up and down relatively to the stabilizing frame, and also for moving the two frames together af er the blade frame has been moved up a predetermined disance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,777 Reynolds Sept. 20, 1932 2,029,122 Stout Jan. 29, 1936 2,085,944 Best July 6, 1937 2,130,274 Harrison et a1 Sept. 13, 1938 2,173,406 Wilkinson Sept. 19, 1939 2,177,871 Dennler Oct. 31, 1939 2,203,941 Brunner June 11, 1940 2,224,725 Felt Dec. 10, 1940 2,483,033 Baker Sept. 27, 1949 

